LINDENHURST, NY – Local officials held a public hearing in Lindenhurst on Monday morning to discuss the recreational use of marijuana in New York.
The hearing, held at Babylon Town Hall at 10:30 a.m., was the fourth of four statewide hearings related to the topic following a well-attended Assembly hearing held earlier this year.
“Forty-one years ago, New York decriminalized non-public possession of small amounts of marijuana, making such possession a non-criminal violation punishable only by a fine,” a letter announcing the meeting read. “Despite decriminalization in New York, a disproportionately high number of Black, Hispanic and Latino people continue to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses – particularly possession in public view – which often results in a criminal record that can prevent gainful employment and full participation in society.”
Several states in the U.S., as well as Canada, have recently legalized or are in the process of legalizing adult marijuana use.
“Creating an adult-use system in New York raises important issues about the economic structure and regulation of production, distribution and sale,” the letter read. “Criminal justice and public health concerns, social and economic equity demands, ensuring opportunities for smaller scale and minority-and-women-owned businesses, and other relevant regulatory matters all need to be considered.”
The local officials who attended the hearing included: assembly member Joseph R. Lentol, Chair of the Committee on Codes; assembly member Richard N. Gottfried, Chair of the Committee on Health; assembly member Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations and assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
